Written by The solar power industry is in a price war at the moment. With everything happening in the world, we are seeing a number of solar installers offering cheap / budget solar systems and dropping their prices to win business.
While it may seem like a great idea to initially save $1,000 to $2,000 off a major purchase, the truth is those who purchase cheap solar systems often pay for it in the long run while increasing the potential for risk, performance issues, faster degradation, and other long-term costs of ownership.Let’s take Australia for example. An audit of the Clean Energy Regulator (CER) by the Australian National Audit Office (ANAO) in 2019 found it is likely there are potentially tens of thousands of badly installed and even unsafe systems on roofs. The regulators inspections found that about one in six solar installations was “substandard”, and about one in 30 was “unsafe”. (Reference: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-05-27/australias-obsession-with-cheap-solar-derailing-market-insiders/11139856 )
A quality solar power system is designed to last 25 years and beyond, and most quality solar panels come with a 25-year product warranty to back that up .When installed to the highest standards, there is little to no servicing required (although inverters may need replacing in around 10 or 15 years), allowing you to passively reduce your power bills for decades.
So, what can you do? As you’re evaluating initial quotes and the potential for long-term return on investment, try to find the most efficient solar panels (in your budget), rely on solar panel reviews, and choose the right system for your needs, and secure your investment by partnering with established brands, demanding industry-leading warranties, and selecting panels with decades of strong performance behind them.
